Liverpool’s principal owner, John W Henry, has issued another ringing
endorsement of Kenny Dalglish’s reign as caretaker manager, seemingly
increasing the likelihood that the Scot will be asked to take the job on a
permanent basis.

Impressive job: Kenny Dalglish has steadied the ship since taking over at Liverpool leaving new owners FSG pleased with their choice of caretaker managerPhoto: PA

Though Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s parent company, is not yet thought to have made a decision over who will occupy the Anfield dugout next season, Henry’s consistent praise of Dalglish — who he appointed last month to the end of the campaign — suggests the job is now the 59 year-old’s to lose.

Henry insisted last week that he felt FSG could not have made “a better choice” than Dalglish when seeking a replacement for Roy Hodgson and on Thursday he updated his Facebook status to express his delight at the on-pitch improvement since the Scot began his second spell at Anfield.

“Over the last seven matches, I believe, only one goal (and that may have been offside) has been conceded,” Henry wrote. “Terrific effort on defense [sic] with increasing aggressiveness. We all have to be extremely happy with the progress, work-rate, determination and coaching staff. A total team effort. Great to see.”

Dalglish’s success puts FSG in a difficult — if enviable — position. The consortium had hoped to attract a young, dynamic manager around whom they could rebuild the Anfield side as their first permanent managerial appointment; only the severity of the situation Liverpool found themselves in under Hodgson forced the club’s owners to approach Dalglish with a temporary remit.

Yet the Scot’s impact has been so profound, helping the club move from a relegation battle to a European place in a matter of weeks, that failing to restore Dalglish to his throne on a permanent basis would incur the wrath of the club’s fans. Even Henry has admitted in recent weeks that the relationship between Dalglish and Liverpool’s supporters is “unique” in world sport.

Liverpool are now unbeaten in seven games, have progressed to the last 16 of the Europa League and will travel to West Ham on Sunday with Luis Suarez, the £22.8 million signing who has already become the darling of the Kop, restored to their side.

“We can already see what a good player Luis is,” said the club’s captain, Steven Gerrard, another in line to return against West Ham.

“I expect him to be even better when he adjusts to the speed of football in this country. He had not played many games in the weeks before he moved here so he is still getting his match fitness. When he gets that he will be very difficult to stop.”

In the continued absence of the club’s record signing, Andy Carroll — who is expected to return against Manchester United a week on Sunday — Suarez will most likely be paired in attack at Upton Park with Dirk Kuyt.